OLD SAC
Staring at my nail polish collection of 16 bright fun shades of seagreen, blues, reds, oranges, and pinks, I began to panic. I love my OPIs, L'oreals, and Rimmel Londons. How could I choose what to pack? I also had to fit in resource books, clothes, nicknacks collected over the years from my travels, etc. The walls were closing in on me. Too much stuff! Too little room. One suitcase per airplane traveller are you nuts!?! I'm a pack rat. I cannot make these kinds of decisions. Everything is important!Everything.
I started doubting this move. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. It was already too difficult and we hadn't packed anything yet.
My husband looked at my defeated face and said, "You do know that we have nail polish in Europe? Spain isn't some third world country that gets some kind of air supply drops every month. We do have stores there." Oh, that's right, I thought. Immediately, I googled Tesco.com to see what other products I could buy when I got to England.
This summer we would be living inside our suitcases. Moving from Berkeley to Antelope. Flying from there to London to drive to Stockton-on-Tees and driving again to our final destination, Lugo. Three countries within 3 months.
This whole packing situation was too stressful. I had to take a break. I went and sat down in front of the T.V. to watch 'The Real Housewives of Altanta". They would calm me down. I love looking into other people's lives that don't have real problems. It validates my own stresses in a way.
So Why Move Abroad?
For a couple of months now, my husband and I have been getting ready to leave the States for Spain. I was a burnt out, public school teacher and my husband had developed cabin feveritis from staying with our baby girl for the past two years. We both needed a change. Discussions that remininced about our lives in Spain and in Costa Rica had started to make us think: 'Why have we been so miserable here?'"What's so great about living abroad?''Why not just live overseas?'
Firstly, as a middle school teacher, I was making more money than I have ever made. Even while being the single household income. But the money never seemed to be enough. We were always scraping by at the end of the month. Know this: we are low-key people. We don't go out every night or eat out all the time. We are pretty spendthrify people, who drop extra money only for special occasions. So why am I working but having nothing to show for it?
Well, part of it is living in the Bay Area. One of the most expensive regions in California, the most expensive state in the USA. A double whammy! Paying $1200 a month for a tiny one bedroom, 1950s apartment was nothing for that area. Everytime I wrote out the rent check, I glanced around at the moldy walls and the rotted window frames. The myraid of fruit flies that took over the apartment and the kitchen counter that never looked clean after several attempts at scrubbing. All a slap in the face of the real worth of this overpriced living area. Hell-to-the-no-not-worth-shat!
Some might say, move to a different part of the US. There are plenty of inexpensive places to raise a family. I still rather be abroad. Imagine living in places where its cheaper and eaiser to eat healthier than going to fast food joints. Imagine barely any fast food resturants at all. Picture nice views at a park where picnicking with cheese, wine, and fruit without hiding or feeling judge for drinking in a public place. Close your eyes and enjoy the vibe of living for life and not for work, where family is placed first without sacrificing financial stability. Where a school is still treated as a place of respect and not holding cells for youths until they turn 18. Instead of living next to people for over 10 years and not even knowing their name, your home is a place where the simplest part of life could be as easy as enjoying a sunset dinner al fresco with the neighbors. Not worrying about bills and/or work's frustrations. These are some of my experiences in Latin America, Australia, and West Europe.
That's why we are becoming expats.
Packing Awaits
I still need to conquer this mountain that non-pack rats would consider a small mole hill.
A iconic scene in Spaceballs (Classic!) keeps running through my mind:
Lone Starr: "I said only take what you need to survive."
Princess Vespa: "My industrial strength hair dryer and I CAN'T
LIVE WITHOUT IT!"
I feel your pain, girl! But Lone Starr has a point. If it's too heavy to carry, is it worth bringing. When I first backpacked through Spain, easing back pain trumped fashion and pack rat tendencies. It's been 7 years and when you add a toddler to the mix, you are packing with contigency plans in mind.
My husband thinks the less we have for her the more durable and independent from material items, she will be. I kinda agree. But do you want to be put in a position of hearing her siren of a cry when a beloved toy can stop it? Or doing with out wipes and travelling with a toddler that thought it would be fun to pick up dog crap in the only park that doesn't have toliet facilities? These scenerios worry me into packing double style. However, some things must stay and some can go.
